US2302860A - Brooder construction - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 24, 1942. D, H, H|| ET AL 2,302,860

" BRooDER CONSTRUCTION Filed May 2, 1940 -HLT 1NVENTOR5- Patented Nov. 24, 1942 BROODER CONSTRUCTION Dewey H. Hill and Donald B. Tolley, Macomb, lll.,

assignors to Globe American Corporation, Kokomo, Ind., a corporation Application November 2, 1940, Serial No. 363,966

(Cil. 119-33) 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a brooder construction for chicks of the type which is electrically heated to maintain an evenly controlled temper.. ature.

One feature of the invention resides in the provision of means for retaining a relatively large volume of preheated fresh air within the brooder canopy in heat exchange relation with air in the brooder compartment proper. Heretofore attempts have been made to preheat incoming fresh air by conducting the same through a conduit within the canopy before discharge to the brooder compartment. Such conduits however have relatively small cubic capacity and surface area and since the air passes therethrough at a fairly rapid rate, the amount of preheating which can be secured is very small. In the present invention the upper portion of the canopy proper is partitioned olf to form a reservoir of fresh air communicating with the outside atmosphere. The partition is made of relatively thin sheet metal and the surface area of the partition is much greater than the area of conduits heretofore in use. The rate of heat transfer from the brooder compartment proper to the fresh air in the reservoir is therefore relatively rapid and the fresh air may be introduced into the brooder compartment at substantially the same temperature as that of the brooder compartment prop er. The fact that the fresh air reservoir is of relatively large capacity compared to the volume of fresh air used in a given time insures that the fresh air remains in the reservoir long enough to be thoroughly preheated.

Another result of this construction is the fact that substantially all of the heat units transmitted to the air in the fresh air reservoir in the upper part cf the canopy are conveyed back into the brooding compartment and are thus put to effective use.

Another feature of the invention resides in the particular arrangement of apparatus by means of which the air in the brooder compartment is recirculated an-d the fresh air is mixed therewith.

Other objects and features of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawing and the following description and claims:

Fig. 1 is a central sectional View, with one corner shown in elevation, of a brooder constructed in accordance with the preferred form of the invention. Fig. 2 is a similar View on a larger scale of the Ventilating fan and associated parts. Fig. 3 is a similar view on an enlarged scale of a fresh air inlet valve.

In the preferred form of the invention shown in the drawing there is provi-ded a canopy or roof I0 which is preferably of pyramidal form but may have a conical or other form if desired. Brackets II are secured to the corners of the roof and have adjustably secured thereto legs I2. Said legs are secured to the brackets by wing bolts I3 and suitable openings I4 are provided in the brackets for the wing bolts at several different elevations. Thus the canopy I0 may be supported above the floor at suitable levels. A curtain I5 which may be formed of any suitable material is secured about the lower edges of the canopy I0 and hangs downwardly to a desired level above the floor.

At the peak of the canopy I0 there is provided an inlet opening I6 having a suitable closure I'I secured to a screw I8 threaded in a nut I9 secured to a spider 29 within the opening IB, The flow of air through opening I6 may be adjusted by means of a knob I8A secured to the screw I8. A spring 2| interposed between the knob and the spider maintains the parts under stress and prevents undesired movement thereof.

A partition plate 22 has its edges secured by screws 23 to the roof l0 at a level substantially nearer to the lower edge than to the peak of the roof. The partition plate divides the space beneath the canopy into an upper preheatingr compartment 24 and a lower brooding compartment 25. The central portion of the partition plate is downwardly dished to increase the volume of the preheatng compartment and to increase the heat transfer area of said partition. The partition plate is formed of relatively thin sheet metal to provide the maximum rate of heat transfer. The interior of the canopy I0 below the partition plate is lined by a layer of insulating material 21 and the portion of Said canopy above said partition plate may be similarly insulated if' desired.

An air conduit 28 is supported at the center of the partition plate 22 and extends downwardly a considerable distance into the brooder chamber 25. At the lower end of said conduit there is supported a fan housing 29 in turn supporting a motor 39 adapted to drive a centrifuf gal impeller 3| within the housing 29. Openings 32 are provided in the conduit 28 beneath the partition plate 22 to permit entrance of warm air from the brooder chamber for recirculation. The housing 29 is also provided with a lower inlet opening 33 through which air may be drawn from the lower part of the brooding chamber.

An electric heater 34 is supported from the partition plate 22 about the fan housing 29 in such position that the air discharged from the fan passes over the surface of the heater. A thermostat 35 arranged for exterior adjustment by means of a knob 36 is provided to control the operation of the heater 34 in a well known manner. An attachment plug 31 which may be inserted in any common form of power supply receptacle is connected by suitable electrical con nections 38 to supply power for the heater and for the motor 3).

In the operation of the apparatus thus described air is circulated through the brooder by the fan in the paths indicated by arrows in Fig. l and is heated by the heater 3l'. under control of the thermostat to maintain an even temperature. As air escapes beneath the curtain I5 it is replaced by warm fresh air drawn from the preheating compartment 24. The fan thus supplies to the brooding compartment a mixture of warm air taken from the lower level of the brooder compartment through the inlet opening 33, warm air taken from the upper part of the brooder compartment through the openings 32 and thoroughly preheated fresh air taken from the preheating compartment 24. The rate of supply of fresh air may be controlled by means of the adjustment of the closure Il. The large volume of fresh air contained in the compartment 24, the relatively large area of the partition 22 and the fact that said partition is exposed to the warmest part of the air in the brooder compartment ensure thorough preheating of the fresh air before it is delivered to the brooding compartment.

The invention has been described in one of its preferred forms, the details of which may be varied without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. A brooder construction having a side wall arrangementl and an upwardly and inwardly directed canopy connected thereto terminating in an air inlet opening at its upper end, heat transferring partition means dished centrally and downwardly and having a central opening therethrough, the partition central opening being in a plane adjacent the plane including the side wall and canopy connection and the partition-canopy connection being appreciably above that plane, but below the top half of the canopy to form a large volume preheating chamber above the partition forming the lower brooder compartment, the preheating chamber having a relatively large under surface for exposure to heated air in the top of the brooder compartment, a tube depending from the partition and registering with the opening therein, the tube having air intake openings immediately adjacent the partition and appreciably below the extreme uppermost portion of the brooder compartment, the tube being open at opposite ends, a depending fan and motor unit beneath the tube and including a fan housing for the fan, the housing including a lateral discharge between its ends and to the central portion of the brooder compartment, the 1ower end of the housing including an air inlet arrangement below the fan and communicating with the brooder compartment for brooder compartment lower central air stagnation prevention, the upper end of the housing communicating with the lower end of the tube, and heating means enveloping the housing and positioned for the fan discharged air to pass by the same for air heating,

the brooder compartment hot air from the uppermost part of said compartment, drawn by the fan into the tube intake openings, moving inwardly and downwardly from higher elevations along the under face of the partition for heating same prior to entrance into the tube by way of the intake openings.

2. A brooder construction having a side wall arrangement and an upwardly and inwardly directed canopy connected thereto terminating in an air inlet opening at its upper end, heat transferring partition means dished centrally and downwardly and having a central opening therethrough, the partition central opening being in a plane adjacent the plane including the side wall and canopy connection and the partition-canopy connection being appreciably above that plane, but below the top half of the canopy to form a large volume preheating chamber above the partition forming the lower brooder compartment, the preheating chamber having a relatively large under surface for exposure to heated air in the top of the brooder compartment, a ltube depending from the partition and registering with the opening therein, the tube having air intake openings immediately adjacent the partition and appreciably below the extreme uppermost portion of the brooder compartment, the tube being open at opposite ends, a depending fan and motor unit beneath the tube and including a fan housing for the fan, the housing including a lateral discharge between its ends and to the central portion of the brooder compartment, the upper end of the housing communicating with the 1ower end of the tube, and heating means enveloping the housing and positioned for the fan discharged air to pass by the same for air heating. the brooder compartment hot air from the uppermost part of said compartment, drawn by the fan into the tube intake openings, moving inwardly and downwardly from higher elevations along the under face of the partition for heating same prior to entrance into the tube by way of the intake openings, and adjustable valve means for the canopy intake opening for regulating the proportions of recirculated air and preheated air discharged by the fan, and of baille plate type for directing cold fresh air laterally toward the under side of the upper part of the canopy.

3. A brooder construction having a side wall arrangement and an upwardly and inwardly directed canopy connected thereto terminating in an air inlet opening at its upper end, heat transferring partition means dished centrally and downwardly and having a central opening therethrough, the partition central opening being in a plane adjacent the plane including the side wall and canopy connection and the partition-canopy connection being appreciably above that plane, but below the top half of the canopy to form a large volume preheating chamber above the partition, forming the lower brooder compartment, the preheating chamber having a relatively large under surface for exposure to heated air in the top of the brooder compartment, a tube depending from the partition and registering with the opening therein, the tube having air intake openings immediately adjacent the partition and appreciably below the extreme uppermost portion of the brooder compartment, the tube being open at opposite ends, a depending fan and motor unit beneath the tube and including a fan housing for the fan, the housing including a lateral discharge between its ends and to the central portion of the brooder compartment, the lower end of the housing including an air inlet arrangement below the fan and communicating with the broeder compartment for brooder compartment lower central air stagnation prevention, the upper end of the housing communicating with the lower end of the tube, and heating means enveloping the housing and positioned for the fan discharged air to pass by the same for air heating, the brooder compartment hot air from the uppermost part of said compartment, drawn by the fan into the tube intake openings, moving inwardly and downwardly from higher elevations along the under face of the partition for heating same prior to entrance into the tube by way of the intake openings, and adjustable valve means for the canopy intake opening for regulating the proportions of recirculated air and preheated air discharged by the fan and of baille plate type for directing cold fresh air laterally toward the under side of the upper part of the canopy.

DONALD B. TOLLEY. DEWEY H. HILL.

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